Matteo Retegui sets transfer record after Saudi move | OneFootball

A multi-million euro deal that has made history in Italian football, Al-Qadisiyah sealed signing of Matteo Retegui from Atalanta yestrday in a record move.

The Saudi club paid €68.5 million (just under £60 million) for the forward – the most expensive transfer for an Italian player.

Retegui's transfer beats the previous record which was the deal between AC Milan and Newcastle for Sandro Tonali for €58.9 million.

Born in San Fernando, Argentina, Matteo Retegui started his football career in the youth ranks of River Plate. However, his senior debut was for rivals Boca Juniors.

The forward, who has Italian ancestry, also played for Estudiantes, Talleres, and Tigre before moving to Italy two years ago, transferring to Genoa. After one season with the Rossoblu, Retegui switched to Bergamo to sign for Atalanta.

The 26-year-old was the top scorer in the 2024/25 last year and in total played in 49 matches for the Orobici in all competitions, scoring 28 goals and providing nine assists.